Enjoy the first SEVEN MINUTES of this Third Episode of THE WIDE MASONIC WORLD - Join hosts Robert Cooper and Mark Tabbert for a captivating discussion with Prof. Christopher Thomas on German Freemasons and the Nazi Party, 1933-1945. Our discussion begins with with Prof. Thomas' paper: "Defining "Freemason": Compromise, Pragmatism, and German Lodge Members in the NSDAP (Nazi Party), published in "German Studies Review", V.35, N.3, (October 2012). Read by the MAGI Mark A. Tabbert.

ABSTRACT: The Nazi persecution of Freemasons presented a conundrum; Freemasonry

was condemned by party ideology, but individual Freemasons possessed skills as

professionals that were essential to the success of the regime. What would have

otherwise been a mutually beneficial relationship sought after by both parties was

prevented solely by the fact that these professionals were Freemasons. The process

of negotiation and accommodation as the party continually redefined what it

meant to be a Freemason, in an attempt to find a way to balance ideological purity

and practical necessity, reveals the ad hoc nature of the Nazi government.

Dr. Christopher Thomas graduated from Arizona State University before earning his Master’s and doctorate in history from Texas A& M University in College Station. He currently is a professor at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia. Although not a Freemason, Prof. Thomas began researching the fraternity in the Third Reich while researching his Master’s thesis. This work, in turn, led to his 2011 dissertation titled:  Compass, Square, and Swastika: Freemasonry in the Third Reich. For the last 15 years he has published several articles and book chapters on American and European history and has taught for numerous colleges and universities in Texas and Virginia.

Enjoy the first 10 Minutes of PART TWO of W.G. Fisher's stories of more than 100 years of Masonic activities of success Dukes of Atholl who served as both the Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Ancient Grand Lodge of England. Paper printed in the Grand Lodge of Scotland's Year-Book, 1969.

ATHOLL, EARLS AND DUKES OF. The Stewart line of the Scottish earls of Atholl, which ended with the 5th Stewart earl in 1595, the earldom reverting to the crown, had originated with Sir John Stewart of Balveny (d. 1512), who was created earl of Atholl about 1457 (new charter 1481). The 5th earl’s daughter, Dorothea, married William Murray, earl of Tullibardine (cr. 1606), who in 1626 resigned his earldom in favour of Sir Patrick Murray, on condition of the revival of the earldom of Atholl in his wife and her descendants. The earldom thus passed to the Murray line, and John Murray, their only son (d. 1642), was accordingly acknowledged as earl of Atholl (the 1st of the Murrays) in 1629.

John Stewart, 4th earl of Atholl, in the Stewart line (d. 1579), son of John, 3rd earl, and of Grizel, daughter of Sir John Rattray, succeeded his father in 1542. He supported the government of the queen dowager, and in 1560 was one of the three nobles who voted in parliament against the Reformation and the Confession of Faith, and declared their adherence to Roman Catholicism. Subsequently, however, he joined the league against Huntly, whom with Murray and Morton he defeated at Corrichie in October 1562, and he supported the projected marriage of Elizabeth with Arran. On the arrival of Mary from France in 1561 he was appointed one of the twelve privy councillors, and on account of his religion obtained a greater share of the queen’s favour than either Murray or Maitland. He was one of the principal supporters of the marriage with Darnley, became the leader of the Roman Catholic nobles, and with Lennox obtained the chief power in the government, successfully protecting Mary and Darnley from Murray’s attempts to regain his ascendancy by force of arms. According to Knox he openly attended mass in the queen’s chapel, and was especially trusted by Mary in her project of reinstating Roman Catholicism. The fortress of Tantallon was placed in his keeping, and in 1565 he was made lieutenant of the north of Scotland. He is described the same year by the French ambassador as “très grand catholique hardi et vaillant et remuant, comme l’on dict, mais de nul jugement et expérience.” He had no share in the murders of Rizzio or Darnley, and after the latter crime in 1567, he joined the Protestant lords against Mary, appeared as one of the leaders against her at Carberry Hill, and afterwards approved of her imprisonment at Lochleven Castle. In July he was present at the coronation of James, and was included in the council of regency on Mary’s abdication. He, however, was not present at Langside in May 1568, and in July became once more a supporter of Mary, voting for her divorce from Bothwell (1569). In March 1570 he signed with other lords the joint letter to Elizabeth asking for the queen’s intercession and supporting Mary’s claims, and was present at the convention held at Linlithgow in April in opposition to the assembly of the king’s party at Edinburgh. In 1574 he was proceeded against as a Roman Catholic and threatened with excommunication, subsequently holding a conference with the ministers and being allowed till midsummer to overcome his scruples.

Listen to the first Eight Minutes of Prof. Christopher Thomas' paper "Defining "Freemason": Compromise, Pragmatism, and German Lodge Members in the NSDAP (Nazi Party), published in "German Studies Review", V.35, N.3, (October 2012). Read by the MAGI Mark A. Tabbert.

ABSTRACT: The Nazi persecution of Freemasons presented a conundrum; Freemasonry

was condemned by party ideology, but individual Freemasons possessed skills as

professionals that were essential to the success of the regime. What would have

otherwise been a mutually beneficial relationship sought after by both parties was

prevented solely by the fact that these professionals were Freemasons. The process

of negotiation and accommodation as the party continually redefined what it

meant to be a Freemason, in an attempt to find a way to balance ideological purity

and practical necessity, reveals the ad hoc nature of the Nazi government.

Dr. Christopher Thomas graduated from Arizona State University before earning his Master’s and doctorate in history from Texas A& M University in College Station. He currently is a professor at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia. Although not a Freemason, Prof. Thomas began researching the fraternity in the Third Reich while researching his Master’s thesis. This work, in turn, led to his 2011 dissertation titled:  Compass, Square, and Swastika: Freemasonry in the Third Reich. For the last 15 years he has published several articles and book chapters on American and European history and has taught for numerous colleges and universities in Texas and Virginia.

Enjoy the First Seven Minutes of this Second Episode of THE WIDE MASONIC WORLD - Join hosts Robert Cooper and Mark Tabbert for a captivating discussion historical and biographical context of Robert Burn's membership in Freemasonry

Join MAGI to enjoy the discussion with Professor Gerard Carruthers, Ph.D. Francis Hutchenson Chair of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

Carruthers was a lecturer in the Department of English Studies, University of Strathclyde (1995-2000), and Research Fellow at the Centre for Walter Scott Studies, University of Aberdeen (1993-5). He graduated from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde and of St Andrew's College of Education, Glasgow. His y PhD thesis was on 'The Invention of Scottish Literature During the Long Eighteenth Century'.

During the summer of 2002, he was W. Ormiston Roy Memorial Visiting Research Fellow at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. During 2011 he was Visiting Professor in English Studies at the University of Wyoming and in 2012 a Visiting Honorary Research Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford and Visiting Fellow at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Since 2018 he has been Visiting Professor in English Studies at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu).

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Hon Fellow of the English Association, Hon Fellow of the Association for Scottish Literature and also the first Honorary Fellow appointed by the World Burns federation.

LEARN MORE https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/critical/staff/gerardcarruthers/#books,biography

His publications include:

Carruthers, G. (2009) Scottish Literature. Series: Edinburgh critical guides to literature. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780748633081

Carruthers, G. (2005) Robert Burns. Northcote House: Tavistock. ISBN 9780746311721

Carruthers, G. (2004) Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Master of Ballantrae and The Ebb-Tide. Series: Scotnotes (18). Association for Scottish Literary Studies. ISBN 0948877561

Edited by Peter P. Hinks and Stephen Kantrowitz, All Men Free and Brethren is a major contribution of the history of Freemasonry, African American history, and the broader history of race, citizenship, and community in the United States.

Enjoy this audio of review by Richard J. Boles, Ph.d as published in the Journal of theEarly Republic (Summer 2014)

In early March 1775, an Irish soldier initiated a dozen or more black Bostonian men into a lodge of Freemasons, making them probably the first people of African descent formally admitted into Freemasonry in the Atlantic world. Prince Hall, a freedman, would emerge as the leader of this group as they worked together to establish a tradition of African American Freemasonry that has persisted ever since―a tradition that still carries his name.

All Men Free and Brethren is the first in-depth historical consideration of Prince Hall freemasonry from the Revolutionary era to the early decades of the twentieth century. Through a growing network of lodges, African American Masons together promoted fellowship, Christianity, and social respectability, while standing against slavery and white supremacy. The contributors to this book examine key aspects in the history of the Prince Hall Masons, from accounts of specific lodges and leaders to broader themes in African American history: abolitionist activism, the limits of freedom during Reconstruction, political oration, the role of women in the black community, and relationships between Masonry and African American churches. Also included are several appendixes containing key texts from Prince Hall Masonry, a glossary of Masonic terms, and lists of archival repositories and contact information for present-day lodges. Edited by Peter P. Hinks and Stephen Kantrowitz, All Men Free and Brethren is a major contribution of the history of Freemasonry, African American history, and the broader history of race, citizenship, and community in the United States.

Enjoy the First Six Minutes of Prof. Gerard Carruthers' paper "Fraternal Claims" published in Inspiring Views from "a' the airts" on Scottish Literatures, Art & Cinema: The First World Congress of Scottish Literature in Glasgow, 2014. As read by the MAGI Scotsman Robert L.D. Cooper.

Prof. Carruthers, Ph.D. is the Francis Hutchenson Chair of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, Scotland

He was a lecturer in the Department of English Studies, University of Strathclyde (1995-2000), and Research Fellow at the Centre for Walter Scott Studies, University of Aberdeen (1993-5). He graduated from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde and of St Andrew's College of Education, Glasgow. His y PhD thesis was on 'The Invention of Scottish Literature During the Long Eighteenth Century'.

During the summer of 2002, he was W. Ormiston Roy Memorial Visiting Research Fellow at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. During 2011 he was Visiting Professor in English Studies at the University of Wyoming and in 2012 a Visiting Honorary Research Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford and Visiting Fellow at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Since 2018 he has been Visiting Professor in English Studies at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu).

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Hon Fellow of the English Association, Hon Fellow of the Association for Scottish Literature and also the first Honorary Fellow appointed by the World Burns federation.

LEARN MORE https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/critical/staff/gerardcarruthers/#books,biography

His publications include:

Carruthers, G. (2009) Scottish Literature. Series: Edinburgh critical guides to literature. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780748633081

Carruthers, G. (2005) Robert Burns. Northcote House: Tavistock. ISBN 9780746311721

Carruthers, G. (2004) Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Master of Ballantrae and The Ebb-Tide. Series: Scotnotes (18). Association for Scottish Literary Studies. ISBN 0948877561

n this captivating episode, host Robert L.D. Cooper delves into the intriguing eye-witness account life and travels in India of His Majesty Habibullah Khan Barakzai Emir of Afghanistan, and initiation into Freemasonry. The account comes from British diplomat and soldier Lt. Col. Sir A. Henry McMahon, CMG, GCVO, KCIE, CFI.

Habibullah Khan Barakzai (3 June 1872 – 20 February 1919) was Emir from 1901 until his assassination in 1919 by Shuja-ud-Daula Ghourbandi. Habibullah was a relatively reform-minded ruler who attempted to modernize his country. During his reign he worked to bring modern medicine and other technology to Afghanistan. Many people who were forced into exile by his father were returned to Afghanistan by a general amnesty decreed by Habibullah. In 1901, Habibullah passed a law forcing Hindu men to wear yellow turbans and women to wear a yellow veil in public in order to distinguish them from Muslims and to discriminate against. In 1903, Habibullah founded the Habibia High School, as well as a military academy. He also worked to put in place progressive reforms in his country. He instituted various legal reforms and repealed many of the harshest criminal penalties.

Habibullah maintained the country's neutrality in World War One, despite strenuous efforts by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and a German military mission to enlist Afghanistan on its side. He also greatly reduced tensions with British India, signing a treaty of friendship in 1905 and paying an official state visit in 1907. While in India, he was initiated into the Craft at Lodge Concordia, No. 3102.

https://www.srmml.org/amir-habibullah-khan-afghan-reformer-and-freemason/

Sir Vincent Arthur Henry McMahon, GCMG GCVO KCIE CSI KStJ (28 November 1862 – 29 December 1949) was a British Indian Army officer and diplomat who served as Foreign Secretary in the Government of India from 1911 to 1915 and as High Commissioner in Egypt from 1915 to 1917. As the Foreign Secretary McMahon conducted the tripartite negotiations between Tibet, China and Britain that led to the Simla Convention. Even though China did not in the end sign the Convention, the agreement governed the British relations with Tibet till 1947. He also features prominently in Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence's account of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War One.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_McMahon

Tune in for an enlightening exploration of a man whose life transcended the ordinary, crafting a monument to integrity, intellect, and service. This episode is not only educational but also a fitting homage to one of Freemasonry’s finest.

Step into the world of legend and history with “The Knights Templar in Scotland and the Creation of a Myth - Part 7 and FINAL.” Enjoy the first six minutes of this Final episode, as host Robert Cooper unravels the intricate tapestry that connects the medieval Knights Templar with Scottish Freemasonry—a myth that has persisted for centuries.

Step into the world of legend and history with “The Knights Templar in Scotland and the Creation of a Myth - Part 6.” Enjoy the first 6 minutes of this captivating episode, as host Robert Cooper unravels the intricate tapestry that connects the medieval Knights Templar with Scottish Freemasonry—a myth that has persisted for centuries.

Join them as they delve into provocative claims made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by controversial figures like Abbé Augustin Barruel and John Robison, who argued that Freemasonry was the shadowy descendant of the outlawed Templars. Discover how religious and political tensions, fueled by anti-Masonic writings and the growing allure of romanticized Scottish history, helped cement this myth in the public imagination and within the very heart of Scottish Freemasonry.

You’ll hear how the Grand Lodge of Scotland struggled to maintain its authority and traditions amid swirling rumors, legal crackdowns, and surging enthusiasm for chivalric ceremonies and secret societies. The episode journeys through the Romantic era, exploring the influence of Sir Walter Scott, royal patronage, and elaborate medieval pageantry on both national identity and the legend of the Templar-Masonic connection.

Whether you’re fascinated by secret societies, medieval history, or the power of myth in shaping culture, this episode provides a thoughtful, well-researched exploration of how a story can take on a life of its own—lasting hundreds of years and captivating generations.

Tune in for a deep dive filled with intrigue, historical drama, and the ongoing quest for origins at the mysterious crossroads of fact and fiction.

Hello and welcome! As of December 1, 2025,we are delighted to announce the launch of our new season and new format.

Starting next Monday, December 8, MAGI will begin alternating weekly podcasts between audio academic papers and interviews of academic historians.

True to our name and mission we will deliver international academic papers by Professor Gerard Carruthers in Scotland, Dr. Robert James in Australia, Professor Kenyo Ishmael in Brazil, and others.

These will be available on alternating weeks. We believe that This is the most ambitious sustained schedule of Masonic scholarship ever produced in audio!

Next Monday begins our new season with the first long paper: Geoffrey Markham’s: “Some Problems with English Masonic History” published in 1997. A respected English barrister, Markham provides a solid, analytical, foundation for the first interview on 15 December: which sees the return of Prof John Dickie, Author of: “The Craft: How Freemasons Made the Modern World” to discuss Masonic secrecy.